Rob G

For those in the know, how long are there likely to be eagles in the Starved Rock area ? Wife wants to go up there on the last weekend in February for some bird watching. Will that be too late?

John, any chance a paddlefish/spoonbill? Now they can get 5 feet in length but not sure if they frquently inhabit your river. The fish above was arrowed downstate and if you prepare them properly actually make excellent table fare.

John, any chance maybe a big cat? A huge long nose gar around here is 20-25 max lbs. and the head below is obviously different than the gator's above so it's pretty obvious. Do they have Asian or grass carp or even sturgeon in those waters? Otherwise, nothing else that I know of can obtain those lengths.

Another fish story: Several years ago I met this older fellow in the office and we began speaking about where he was from and he told me that he grew up on the Tennessee River which I have fished countless times. He said when he was a boy they would often fish just down below the Kentucky Dam, and there occasionally the gator gar would rise up right along the boat and they and the other locals would often feed them one of their catch. He said they were as long as his boat oar and bigger but by the time he was in his mid-teens, they no longer saw them but he did't know why.

This one my friend took legally in Texas where they are more plentiful.

I know where there is or at least was one in Illinois. One night about 8 years ago at 3 AM my friend and I were bowfishing the Sangamon River just downstream of the Decatur, IL dam and the beast came right up from under the boat at the bow, his triangular head was as wide across as a dinner plate and that nice olive coloration. How long or how big not sure because we could only see his head right below us completely out of the water, while the rest of his body remained submerged below the boat. Anyway, they are protected in Illinois so we couldn't shoot it but we both stood there with our mouths open in disbelief. Fished that area several more times and did pick up some nice long nose that went 20 lbs and 59" long but never saw him again.

I know it's a little smaller than what you'rve got there but I've seen fellows use old VHS cassette tape plastic boxes with some foam glued in and you can often pick them for nothing.

Ryan, I generally use a Mustad 3366 size 6 or 4 hook. They're cheap, buy'em by the 100 for about $8 and can use them for a bunch of patterns. I always said that Mustad must not realize they are used for fly tying or they would triple the price They're not the sharpest hook right out of the box but as you can see by the tip, a few strokes of a file and they can be scary sharp. Use a couple regular ole' marabou feathers just what you use for your bugger tail, generally in the same color as your rabbit and a 3-4" zonker strip. I've used Magnum zonker strips in the past which are wider than the standard and they really didn't do anything for the fly except make it heavier and more difficult to cast. You get a very nice leech like undulating movement with this fly and I can attest it will catch numerous species of fish, especially in my home waters north in WI. No you don't use any glue with this, being tied in the front and pierced over the hook will keep the strip in place just fine. Hope this helps.

Fred, sounds great to me. Heck any fishing right now sounds great to me.

Ryan, just to be clear, the pattern above uses zonker cut rabbit and not cross cut rabbit as Rich is referring to. The cross cut will lend itself to a much bulkier fly.

Ryan, not sure if I'm following your thinking here but this is a simple leech pattern that I've been tying for years. The strip of rabbit zonker is tied in on the top and pierced by the hook. On the bottom, a marabou feather or two is tied in as well. I use a barbell weight in order to get it down and make sure the hook rides up. An older fellow once told me that you just have to let the magic of rabbit fur work for you.

Event Date: 21-January 11 (Single Day Event) Dave asked me to let everyone know that the Central Illinois Region of the ISA will be holding a meeting in Bloomington on Friday evening 7-8:15 PM at the #2 Bloomington Fire Station. Plans and events will be discussed for the upcoming year. Generally many of the members will seek out a local watering hole afterwards.

Never seen Joe speak but I do enjoy his fly tying videos over on FlyfishOhio.com Really looking forward to it.

Though I fly fish for smallies 90% of the time, when I do grab my spinning rod, and if the water is even slightly clear, it's a Berkley's 4" punkinseed power worm rigged texas style with a 1/8 oz. matching bullet sinker and pegged. In fact, it's probably the most common bait I use for his green cousin as well.

Just maybe "It's the Aflockalypse"

Event Date: 09-January 11 (Single Day Event) January 9....(1-4 PM)....Bloomington Fire station #6, located just off Towanda Barnes rd. at 4040 E. Oakland drive, Bloomington IL You do not have to be an ISA member to join in and beginners are welcome. Contact Rob G. for further information

Event Date: 09-January 11 (Single Day Event) January 9....(1-4 PM)....Bloomington Fire station #6, located just off Towanda Barnes rd. at 4040 E. Oakland drive, Bloomington IL You do not have to be an ISA member to join in and beginners are welcome. Contact Rob G. for further information

Sorry Rich, that's what I get when I have multiple screens going on at the same time and then keep getting interrupted while trying to edit a post.

Curious how many like to reverse their pencil popper bodies making them more into slider flies or a sneeky Pete style and if so, under what condtions do you use the slider vs. the standard popper formation?

http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7531

Mike, that so happens to be one of my favorite ties in a size #12 nymph hook 2 or 3 xl, tied in black or brown marabou for bluegill. Simple and effective.

Thanks Jim. I remember when they had at least two nice shows up there but were forced to combine them in order to keep it viable. Indy has a one day fly show on January 8 where at 1:30-2:15 Tim Holschlag speaks: "Guide's Secrets for Better Smallmouth Fishing" If there's any interest, could take a van full over to it. http://www.freewebs.com/reelwomen/indianaflyfishingshow.htm